Two Things

Psalm 62:11-12
One thing God has spoken,
two things have I heard:
that you, O God, are strong,
and that you, O Lord, are loving.
Surely you will reward each person
according to what he has done.

Several years ago, my husband had surgery on his foot and he had to be in a full leg cast for a while. When the cast came off, that leg was noticeably smaller than his other one. The muscles had gone unused for so long that it appeared his leg had shrunk! He began physical therapy and the doctor talked to him about muscle memory. Muscle memory refers to the accelerated muscle retraining phenomenon when a muscle has been trained, detrained and then retrained again. In my husband's case, his muscles were weak because they were not being used at all. The muscle returned as he continued to do his exercises. Another example would be if you take a long break from working out you will be able to get your muscle back much quicker than someone who has never worked out before.

Memorizing Scripture is a bit like muscle memory. The more you meditate on the Word, the easier it becomes to recall it in a time of need. This year I have made a commitment to memorize 2 scripture segments a month. I have been trying really hard to stick with it. I write the verse that I am currently memorizing on a 3x5 card and put it in my kitchen window, where I read it often. There are days when I try to recall my previous verses, and I struggle through it. My ability to retain more than one verse at a time is still weak, but I am working on it!

When Paul pleaded with the Lord to remove the thorn in his flesh, the Lord said to him "my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

You, O God, are strong...

Even David, a man after God's own heart, had his moments of weakness. After his encounter with Bathsheba he wrote "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions." (Psalm 51:1) There are times when my own shortcomings cause me to feel failure and shame.

You, O Lord, are loving...

Two Things. David heard them. Paul understood them. I believe them. Where do you stand today? Do you need to be reminded that God is both strong and loving?

Dear friend, "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:16-19)